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Spiral Staircases
A spiral staircase can be a great feature
in your home. Most homeowners consider a
spiral staircase a functional necessity to
connect two floors, but integrated in the
overall design, it can add to the attractiveness
of the space as well as be a discrete but
useful feature. Here are some tips for picking
a spiral staircase for your home:
- Consider its location. Try to ensure that
the access to the stair matches its expected
use. For frequent use, the flow to and from
the stairs should be easy. On the other hand,
for less frequent use, a less accessible
location, such in a large closet area or
back hall may be acceptable. In all cases,
proper structural support is necessary to
bear the weight of the stairs, which tend
to be concentrated where the center column
rests, so make sure the location you choose
can bear the weight of the staircase and
users.
- You can choose the diameter of the stairs.
Typical diameters start at 4 feet (fairly
narrow) with common sizes being 5, 6 and
7 feet . Of course, the space available is
the first criteria; also consider tread (the
spot you put your foot) size (keeping in
mind that the tread narrows at it approaches
the center) and what, if anything, you will
want to carry up the staircase. Youmay find
it a good idea to visit a showroom and actually
go up and down a spiral staircase before
settling on a diameter.
- Although custom-made staircases are available,
a quicker solution that can also save money
is the staircase kit. These come in standard
sizes and are offered in various materials,
such as metal or wood. Kit manufacturers
can help you determine the appropriate configuration
for the top landing, the rotation of the
stairs (turning right or left as you go up),
the riser (height of each step) and the number
of steps necessary.
When choosing the staircase material, consider
things like style, finish, comfort and price.
Also keep in mind that metal staircases tend
to be noisier than wood ones. |
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